The BCCI’s choice to take the 2020 Indian Premier League(IPL) season to the UAE has been welcomed with elation, particularly by the segment of fans in India who has been eagerly waiting for the commencement of the IPL.
A week ago, the BCCI reported that the thirteenth edition of the IPL will be held at three cities in the UAE (Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah) from September 19 to November 10 this year.
The league was initially planned to start on 29 March, however, due to the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was postponed.
While there have been a few voices of contradiction scrutinizing the choice, when the majority of the competitions across sports, including the T20 World Cup, have been dropped in the fear of the coronavirus, different segments of various sports leagues have tossed their weight behind BCCI’s choice, saying that cricket is best positioned “to take the lead” for Indian games.
At this point it is well known that we have to live with the virus [COVID-19], then we also have to learn to play in this pandemic situation, as former Indian boxer Akhil Kumar told TimesofIndia.com.
He further added, we should see this [IPL 2020] as an experiment in the times of COVID-19 pandemic, if this year’s IPL gets successful it will be a huge chance for other sports as well.
Dronacharya award-winning badminton coach Vimal Kumar also praised BCCI’s decision to organize the IPL in the current scenarios.
He said many federations will look at it and will try to revive their games.
Only one problem in taking IPL to the UAE is the IPL is the only source of income for many low-level laborers in India, for the IPL is very important. They are already facing difficulties in this pandemic situation.
Akhil was quite straightforward in his answer to this question.
IPL is a business. So simply like some other business, it’s up to coordinators and leagues whom they need to keep and whom they don’t.
Meanwhile, BCCI also faced strong criticism for retaining Chinese company Vivo as its title sponsor. But now BCCI officially declared that Vivo will not be a part of this year’s IPL.
Akhil felt that this will send a message that organizers and leagues are also thinking about the emotional sentiments of the Indian public, as large sections are boycotting Chinese products after the recent Galway valley incident.
Akhil wrapped up by acknowledging IPL for the “league culture” it acquainted with sports in India.
Akhil said, when IPL started there was no league culture in India, people were only used to talk about European football leagues.
Around then, IPL set a model for other people. On the off chance if IPL hadn’t come, at that point no one would have thought of different sports leagues in India.
